POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Jiwei Zhao
Semifinals
South Korea - Philippines 67-58
South Korea joined China in the Final of U16 Asia Championship. They fired past Philippines in the semifinal tonight. Heo Hoon (181-G-95) nailed 22 points in the victory. Philippines ensured the better start to the game. They eked out a 21:19 lead after ten minutes. But South Korea turned things around in the second frame. They held Philippines to just 8 points in the period and recorded a 37:29 halftime lead. The teams traded baskets throughout the third term. South Korea stayed in charge posting an 8-point lead with one quarter remaining. The Korean side held their opponents to just 8 points in the final stanza and sealed the victory. Kim Nakhyeon (180-G-95) and Kim Gookchan (193-F-96) delivered 16 points apiece for the winners. Renzar Asilum (173-PG-95) and Rodolfo Alejandro (175-G-95) posted 12 points each in the loss.
Japan - China 43-82
China marched into the U16 Asia Championship Final undefeated. They stunned Japan in the semifinal clash tonight to enter the championship game. China will defend their title against South Korea tomorrow. Zhao Jiwei (185-G-95) and Yan Haoxin (90-G-95) scored 18 points each to pace the winners. Japan will face Philippines for the Bronze medals on Friday. China unleashed 30 points to clear off in the opening frame. They entered the second term up by 16 points. Japan slowed their opponents down but could not get any closer. China posted a 44:27 halftime lead. China stiffened defence in the third quarter. They limited Japan to just 6 points in the quarter to take a 60:33 lead with one quarter remaining. China coasted to the victory in the final period. Zhou Qi (215-C-96) notched 15 points for the winners. Yusei Sugiura (194-C-95) responded with 19 points for Japan. Taisei Shirato (181-G-95) had 8 points in the loss.
5-8 place
Iraq - Indonesia 99-38
Iraq will play for the fifth position at U16 Asia Championship. They trounced Indonesia in the classification round tonight. Karrar Hamzah (187-G/F-95) and Alaa Mohammed (180-G-97) scored 18 points each for the winners. Iraq will take on Lebanon, while Indonesia will face Saudi Arabia for the seventh overall place. Iraq stunned their opponents in the first frame. They outscored Indonesia 25:10 in the starting ten minutes. Iraq unloaded 29 points in the second frame to establish a 54:20 halftime lead. Iraq maintained the lead throughout the second half. Indonesia never threatened the margin and had to surrender at the end. Farid Mahdi (190-F-95) notched 17 points in the winning effort. Vincent Kosasih (198-C-96) answered with 10 points for Indonesia. Rizky Indraprasto (184-G-85) netted 7 points in the loss.
Lebanon - Saudi Arabia 76-43
Lebanon will play for the fifth place at the U16 Asia Championship. They overcame Saudi Arabia in the classification round tonight. Lebanon will face Iraq, while Saudi Arabia will play against Indonesia tomorrow. Lebanon opened the game aggressively. They grabbed a 21:12 lead after ten minutes of action. Lebanon stretched the gap in the second term. They established a 38:24 halftime lead. Lebanon cleared off to an unassailable margin in the third term. They recorded a 60:32 advantage with ten minutes remaining and never looked back en route to the win. Jimmy Salem (190-G-95) stepped up with 17 points for Lebanon. Gerard Hadidian (197-F-95) had 14 points for the winners. Abdulaziz Sakar (183-G-95) notched 18 points for Saudi Arabia. Raad Barnawi (185-G-95) netted 8 points in defeat.
9-10 place
India - Taiwan 60-61
Lu Kuan-Hsuan (95) drained a triple with three seconds left in regulation to seal a narrow win of Taiwan over India at U16 Asia Championship classification round. The winners claimed the 9th overall position at the tournament. Wang I-Fan provided 17 points to pace the effort. India looked better early in the game. They grabbed a 16:11 lead after ten minutes of action. Taiwan bounced back in the second quarter. They cut the deficit at 2-point mark at the interval 32:34. The third term add woes to India. Taiwan held their opponents to 8 points to take a 7-point lead at the final break. But India erased the deficit and pulled ahead late in the game. They led by three points before Wang I-Fan nailed a free throw and then fed Lu Kuan-Hsuan for a three-pointer as Taiwan snatched a narrow win at the end. Wu You-Da (95) notched 11 points in the victory. Satnam Singh Bhamara (216-C-95) answered with 29 points for India. Rakesh Haryana had 10 points in the loss.
11-12 place
Vietnam - Qatar 58-59
Qatar celebrated a narrow win over Vietnam in the U16 Asia Championship classification round tonight. Qatar thus clinched the 11th position in the ladder. Vietnam almost completed comeback rally in the fourth frame but came up just short of victory at the end. Abdulrahman Saad (183-F-96) posted 20 points and 7 rebounds to lead the charge. Qatar held the hosts to 5 points in the opening frame taking an 8-point lead. Qatar continued to clear off in the second quarter. They recorded a 34:20 halftime lead. Vietnam stopped the rot in the third term. The home team cut the deficit to 12 points with ten minutes to go. Vietnam went on a desperate rally in the final quarter. The home team got within a single point with 32 second remaining. Tung Nguyen had a chance to put Vietnam in charge but missed two free throws and Qatar ran away with a narrow win at the end. Mohamed Abdelkawy (177-G-95) top-scored with 21 points for Qatar. Thong Nguyen Duy (180-F-95) answered with 20 points for Vietnam. Minh Do Duy (180-F-95) had 11 points in the loss.
